From one player’s vision for a better paintball store to a place where families, friends, and thrill-seekers create lasting memories.
There is something special about a business that gives people a place to step away from everyday routines, try something new, and simply have fun. For more than two decades, Extreme Velocity has been creating those opportunities through paintball, airsoft, laser tag, and experiences that bring friends, families, and groups together. Behind it all is a business that began with one person’s enthusiasm for the sport and a simple idea about how customers deserve to be treated.
It Started with a Player Who Had an Idea
When Brian founded Extreme Velocity in 2003, he wasn’t just interested in opening another paintball store. As a player himself, he knew what he wanted from a shopping experience and recognized an opportunity to create something different. He envisioned a store where customers could explore a wide variety of equipment, actually see and handle the products they were considering, and feel confident they were receiving fair prices. Just as importantly, he wanted people to feel welcome, whether they were experienced players or just discovering the sport.
That original vision says quite a bit about Brian’s approach to business. Rather than building a store around pushing products, he focused on creating the kind of experience he would appreciate as a customer. It’s a thoughtful starting point that has continued to influence Extreme Velocity as the company has grown.
Building More Than a Paintball Store
What began as a specialty paintball retailer has evolved into something much larger. Over the years, Extreme Velocity expanded its product selection, added airsoft equipment, developed equipment servicing capabilities, and created recreational spaces where customers could enjoy the activities firsthand. Each new chapter has brought opportunities to serve people in different ways while remaining connected to the interests that inspired the business in the first place.
Today, Extreme Velocity’s Salem location at 3046 Portland Road NE brings together specialty retail and interactive entertainment. Customers can shop for paintball and airsoft equipment, explore gear and accessories, and connect with a team that understands the products and activities. The store’s philosophy remains rooted in clear pricing, accessible merchandise, and knowledgeable assistance without unnecessary sales pressure.
But Extreme Velocity is also about what happens beyond the retail counter.
Where the Fun Becomes a Shared Experience
Through its indoor paintball, airsoft, and laser tag experiences, the business gives people a reason to gather, move, laugh, compete, and create memories together. For some, that might mean celebrating a child’s birthday with friends. For others, it could be a group outing, a new hobby, or a chance to spend an afternoon doing something outside the ordinary.
What makes these experiences meaningful isn’t necessarily the competition itself. It’s the opportunity to share something memorable with other people. A family might discover an activity they enjoy together. A group of friends might find themselves working as a team in ways they hadn’t expected. Someone trying airsoft or paintball for the first time might discover an interest they didn’t know they had.
Of course, equipment and facilities are only part of what makes a business memorable. The people who welcome guests, answer questions, organize activities, and help newcomers feel comfortable are just as important.
Perhaps the best reflection of Extreme Velocity’s approach to business comes from its customers. With hundreds of online reviews and an impressive 4.9-star Google rating, the business has earned a reputation for more than just providing a fun place to play. Customers frequently describe employees who go out of their way to help, whether that’s patiently introducing a child to paintball for the first time, making a birthday celebration something special, or helping an experienced player track down a hard-to-find piece of equipment. It’s the combination of knowledgeable staff, genuine hospitality, and memorable experiences that has helped Extreme Velocity build lasting relationships with customers throughout the community.
That kind of feedback reflects something especially valuable about a business centered on recreation. People arrive hoping to have fun, but the experience often depends on whether they feel welcomed, supported, and comfortable participating. A knowledgeable employee who takes time to explain something or a patient staff member helping children through their first game can make all the difference.
Always Finding New Ways to Play
Extreme Velocity has continued to create spaces for those experiences to happen. In 2017, the company acquired the former Warpaint International indoor paintball facility in Salem, opening another chapter in its development. In 2019, it expanded its indoor activities with a dedicated airsoft and laser tag arena, further connecting its retail expertise with hands-on recreation.
That willingness to keep improving has remained evident in more recent years. In December 2025, Extreme Velocity completed a significant renovation of its Salem indoor facility, expanding the seating area and introducing additional game options. An arcade was added in January 2026, creating even more opportunities for guests to enjoy their visit.
The business has also extended its activities beyond its indoor facilities. The Lost Forest outdoor field began hosting special events in 2023, creating another way for enthusiasts to enjoy paintball and airsoft experiences.
And this Halloween season, Extreme Velocity is bringing a different kind of excitement to downtown Salem through its Zombie Shoot at Salem Center Mall. Running from September 26 through November 1, 2026, the interactive attraction takes participants into a zombie-themed adventure where survivors search for clues to a cure while facing the undead.
It’s a creative example of how the business continues exploring new ways to entertain people and bring shared experiences into the community. What started with a love for paintball now includes imaginative events that give people another reason to get out, gather with friends, and enjoy something unexpected right here in Salem.
These developments reflect the kind of business Brian set out to build, one that pays attention to what people enjoy and continues finding ways to make the experience better. While the company has grown considerably from its beginnings as a paintball store, the emphasis on serving customers and creating opportunities for people to enjoy the activities they love remains recognizable.
A Vision That Continues to Grow
For Brian, the journey from opening a store in 2003 to overseeing a business with retail, recreation, and special events represents more than two decades of building on an idea that mattered to him personally. He understood what he appreciated as a player, created a business around those values, and continued developing it as new opportunities emerged.
And for the Salem community, Extreme Velocity offers something worth appreciating. It provides a place for people to connect through shared interests and experiences. It gives longtime paintball and airsoft enthusiasts a business that understands their hobbies while creating opportunities for newcomers to discover them. It also contributes to the variety of activities available for local families, friends, and groups looking for meaningful ways to spend time together.
In many ways, the story of Extreme Velocity comes back to the reason Brian started it. He wanted to create a place that felt different because it considered the experience from the customer’s perspective. More than twenty years later, that idea remains at the heart of a business that continues to evolve, invest in its facilities, and bring people together.
Sometimes the value of a local business is found in the services it provides. Other times, it can be found in the memories people take home. Extreme Velocity offers both, and its story is a reminder of what can happen when a personal passion becomes a lasting part of the community.
To learn more about Extreme Velocity, explore its Salem facilities, or discover upcoming activities and special events, visit www.extreme-velocity.com.
For information about the seasonal Zombie Shoot experience, visit www.salemscare.com.
